Guides, calculators and troubleshooting
Here are all the practical guides, calculators and troubleshooting pages on DryFoodLab, organized by category.
Food dehydrators
- Food Dehydrator Drying Times and Temperatures Chart (°F and °C)Food dehydrator drying times and temperatures in °F and °C for fruit, vegetables, herbs and jerky, plus how to tell when food is dry. Guideline ranges.
- How to Choose a Food Dehydrator: 8 Specs That Actually MatterHow to choose a food dehydrator: drying area, airflow, jerky-safe temperatures, timer, stainless vs plastic trays, noise and cleaning, with examples.
- How to Dehydrate Fruit: Prep, Lemon Dip, Drying and ConditioningHow to dehydrate fruit in a food dehydrator: prep, lemon juice pretreatment, slice thickness, 131-140 °F guideline, dryness tests and conditioning in jars.
- How to Make Jerky in a Dehydrator: The USDA-Safe MethodHow to make jerky in a food dehydrator following USDA guidance: heat meat to 160 °F first, dry at 130-140 °F, plus slicing, marinating and storage.
- Why Is My Dehydrated Fruit Sticky? Causes and FixesDehydrated fruit still sticky? Learn whether it is natural sugar or leftover moisture, and fix it with more time, lower heat, thinner slices and conditioning.
- Dehydrator Drying Unevenly? Causes and FixesFood dehydrator drying unevenly? Find out why trays near the fan finish first and fix it with rotation, even slicing, lighter loads and better airflow.
Home freeze dryers
- Harvest Right Alternatives on Amazon: What You Can Actually BuyHarvest Right is not sold on Amazon. See the real freeze dryer alternatives on Amazon.com, compatible accessories and the questions to ask before you buy.
- How to Choose a Home Freeze Dryer: 9 Specs to Check FirstHow to choose a home freeze dryer: vacuum pump, cold trap temperature, batch capacity, pump oil, weight, outlet, noise, upkeep and how to read a listing.
- How to Freeze-Dry Food at Home: Phases, Loading and StorageHow to freeze-dry food at home: the three phases of a cycle, how to load trays, which foods work and which do not, and how to pack results in mylar bags.
- How to Spot a Fake Freeze Dryer on Amazon: 5 Red FlagsHow to spot a fake freeze dryer on Amazon: check the vacuum pump, cold trap temperature, weight, power and cycle time before you buy a dehydrator by mistake.
- Freeze Dryer Won’t Reach Vacuum? Causes and FixesFreeze dryer won’t reach vacuum? Check the door gasket, pump oil, drain valve, hose fittings and a cold pump, with a symptom table and when to claim warranty.
Vacuum sealers
- How to Choose a Vacuum Sealer: 8 Specs That Actually MatterHow to choose a vacuum sealer: bar vs chamber vs handheld, kPa, double seal, moist mode, embossed bags, rolls, accessory port and warranty, with real examples.
- How to Vacuum Seal Food: Step by Step, Liquids and SafetyHow to vacuum seal food step by step: bag prep, sealing liquids, foods that need extra care, botulism risk and what vacuum sealing does to storage life.
- Vacuum Sealer Not Sealing Properly? Causes and FixesVacuum sealer bags losing air or seals peeling open? Fix moisture on the seal area, a dirty or worn heating strip, the wrong seal time and unsuitable bags.
- Vacuum Sealer Not Vacuuming? Causes and FixesVacuum sealer not pulling air out of the bag? Check for smooth bags, a worn gasket, wrinkles, liquid in the pump path or a dirty drip area, and fix it fast.
Freeze-dried and emergency food
- 72-Hour Emergency Food Supply: How Much to Store and What to BuyHow to build a 72-hour emergency food supply: FEMA and EU advice, calories and water per person, a calculator, and kits, meals and ration bars that fit.
- How Long Does Freeze-Dried Food Last? Shelf Life ExplainedHow long freeze-dried food, dehydrated meals and ration bars last, the shelf life claims in our catalog, and how oxygen, moisture, light and heat shorten them.
- Freeze-Dried Food Gone Soft or Chewy? Causes and FixesFreeze-dried food gone soft, chewy or sticky? It has absorbed moisture. Learn the causes, when to eat or discard it, and how to store it after opening.
Long-term food storage
- How Many Oxygen Absorbers Do I Need? The 21% Rule and a Size ChartHow many oxygen absorbers you need per mylar bag, jar or bucket: the 21% rule with worked examples, a chart by bag size and food type, and a calculator.
- Long-Term Food Storage: How to Pack Mylar Bags Step by StepHow to store food long term with mylar bags and oxygen absorbers: which foods work, heat sealing with a sealer or iron, labeling, buckets and mistakes.
Tools and more
- Drying Cost Calculator: Electricity Use of a Dehydrator or Freeze DryerFree drying cost calculator: enter watts, hours per cycle, duty and your electricity rate to see kWh and running cost per batch and per month.
- Emergency Food Calculator: How Much Food and Water to StoreFree emergency food calculator: enter people, days and calories to see total kcal, freeze-dried pouches, 2,400 kcal ration bars and water to store.
- Oxygen Absorber Calculator: How Many cc Per Bag?Free oxygen absorber calculator: enter bag or jar volume and food type to get the cc you need per container and how many 300, 500 or 2,000 cc packets.